Sheet dispensing device



- 1934- G. A. SHAFFER SHEET DISPENSING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 17, 1950 3W1 67010214. flaffer 1934- G. A. SHAFFER SHEET DISPENSING D EVICE Ended. 17. 1950 6/ 20 as I 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwznntov I It; II 1 I 61512114 Jfiaffr Oct. 2, 1934. SHAFFER 1,975,557

SHEET DISPENSING DEVI-CE Filed Oct. 1'7, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 32x nr Y W Oct. 2, 1934;. G SHAFFER 1,975,557

' SHEET DISPENSING DEVICE I Filed Oct. 17, 1930 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 4' IIIIHHIIIHHHIIHH.

@CL 2, 1934. SHAFFER 1,975,557

SHEET DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Oct, 17, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Oct. 2, 1934 UNITED STATES 1,975,557 SHEET DISPENSING DEVICE Glenn A. Shaffer, Green Bay, Wis., assignor to Fort Howard Paper Company, Green Bay, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application October 17, 1930, Serial No. 489,427

6 Claims. (Cl. 312-61) The invention relates to dispensers and has as an object. the provision of a floor type of dispenser adapted for dispensing folded sheets as paper napkins or the like.

It is an object of the invention to provide av dispenser which will contain a large number of folded sheets and automatically feed the same toward the dispensing openings.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a dispenser which is simple to manufacture and unlikely to get out of order.

It is a further object of the invention to improve generally upon. details of devices of this character.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the following description when'taken in connection with the accompanying drawings showing illustrative embodiments of the invention and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section on line 22 of Fig. 3;

Figs. 3 and 4 are vertical sections on lines 3-3 and 44 respectively of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section of a modified form taken on line 55 of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on of Fig.5.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive the device comprises a casing 10 adapted to seat upon the floor and desirablybeing of such a height as to bring the top within ready reach of users of the sheets, as folded napkins to be dispensed thereby.

The device is shown as embodying two dispensing elements whereby a double column of sheets may be provided for, although it is evident that a single column might be enclosed in a. casing embodying the principles and structure shown in one-half of the illustration of both forms of the device.

As shown the casing comprises a bottom 11 and end walls 12, 13, the latter extending substantially the full height of the device. The remaining sides of the casing are closed at the bottom by stationary panels 14, 15 and at the upper portion of the casing by movable panels 16, 17 seating between panels 12, 13 which may be made -movable in any manner as for instance by hinges, not shown, or readily removable completely from the casing.

The casing is shown as closed at the top by means of a cap 18 having a depending peripheral flange 19 standing in juxtaposition to the upper line 6-6 ends of the side walls of the casing. To support the cover 18 upon the casing, thecover is shown as formed with depending lugs 20 indicated as four in number extending inside the side walls '12, 13 and attached thereto as by screws 21.

The cover 18 is shown as formed with dispensing openings 22, 23, through which access may be had to sheets dispensed by the device, said sheets desirably being folded with a central tab which may be grasped by the user for removal of the sheet from the casing, as indicated for instance in dotted lines in Fig. l.

To support a column of folded sheets and elevate the same toward the openings 22, 23, there are shown movable platforms 24 in the form of plates having downturned edges 25 and central angle members 26, the ends thereof projecting as at 27, 28 for attachment to the lifting sprocket chains 29, 30. Said chains 29, 30 are shown as passing about sheaves 31, 32 at the top of the casing and about sprocket wheels 33, 34, which sprocket wheels are rigidly secured upon shafts 35 mounted in bearings 36, 37 mounted in plates 38, 39 in the bottom of the casing.

The chains are shown as endless but provided at portions which are not in the operation of the device passed about the sprocket wheels or the sheaves with tension springs 40, 41 to take up wear and hold the chains tight.

' 42, 43, for access to the screws 21 in the assembly or disassembly of the device. To disassemble, the panels 16, 1'7 may be opened or'removed, the screws 21'taken out, and the cover 18 removed, whereupon the plates 42-45 inclusive may be removed and the remaining parts are readily accessible for removal or adjustment.

To cause elevation of the platforms 24, there are shown coil springs 50 each secured at one end to a bracket 51 and at its remainnig end to the sprocket 34 as at 52, sleeve '53, shown as formed of wood, being loosely placed upon the shaft 35 forsupport of the convolutions of the spring.

It will be seen that when the device is assembled with the chains 29, 30 about the sprockets and the platforms 24 at the top of the device,

depression of the plates will tension the springs 50 and that the platforms will be elevated upon removal of the depressing power, after the manner oi the Hartshorn shade roller.

To control the uncoiling of the spring 50, there is shown. an escapement in the form of a double pawl and a ratchet 56 secured upon the shaft 35 the action of escapemen't being under the control of pendulums 57 coasting with toothed discs 58 also carried by the shaft 35.

To stop the upward movement 01'' the tables when the sheets to be dispensed are presented to or adjacent the openings 22, there are shown bars 59 pivoted upon a rod 60 at one end, said rod passing longitudinally of the openings 22, 23 and out of the paths of movement of the sheets. Underlying the bar 59 at one end of the openings 22, 23 is a portion of a yoke 61 connected to a rod 62 passing downwardly outside the plates 42 and connected to an arm 63 pivoted as at'dd and provided with a notch 65 adapted to engage 2. lug 66 carried by the pendulum 57.

c The rods 62 will fall by gravity when not supportedby the sheets, thus allowing the pendu lums 57 to swing freely and the spring 50 to unwind to elevate the platforms 2%. When the top of the column of sheets reaches the openings 22, 23, or adjacent thereto, the rod 62 will be lifted so that notch 65 will engage the lug 66 and step movement of the pendulum thereby stopping feed 01 the sheets until the supply has been somewhat depleted.

The plates 38, 39 are desirably supported vertically as by means or a brace member or brace members 68, s

To hold the platforms 24 at the bottom of their travel while sheets are being supplied thereon, there are shown sliding catches 69 having cam portions '70 adapted to enter openings '71 in the bars 28, the catches shown as being urged to engaging position by means oi springs 72.

The catches are further shown as provided with extremities 73 to be engaged by the panels 16, 17. When the panels are removed the springs '12 will throw the catches outwardly to bring the cam portions into the path of the bar 28. If the platforms 2i arethen depressed, the catches will engage the openings 71 and hold the platform tension of the springs 50. The supply of sheets may then be replenished and when the panels 16, 17 are replaced pressure will be exerted upon the extremities 73 to overcome the springs '12 and release the catches allowing the elevation oi the sheets to take place automatically as described;

In the modification of Figures 5 and 6, a con- Y stantly running electric motor is utilized Ior ele- 77, 78 projecting through slots '79 between the guide plates 80, 81 and attached tothe sprocket chains 82, 88, all in a manner as already described in connectionwith Figures 1 to 4 inclusive. In this form of the device also the sprocket chains pass over sheaves 84. 85 and about sprockets 86,

87 and have tension springs 88 included for tightening the chains.

arass? a motor 93 through the medium of the reducing gear 94. The reversal oi movement oi the sprockets 86 by the pulls oi the pawls 91 which would be caused by the weight of the sheets upon the platform '25 is prevented by pawls 95 pivoted at one and upon springs 96.

To control the elevation of the sheets by table '15, the pawls 95 are arranged to be lifted by means oi rods 97 engaging the pawls at their lower ends and at their upper ends engaging bars .98 extending in the path of the ends of the folded sheets as elevated toward the dispensing openings 99, 100, said bars 98 being pivoted upon bars 101.

When the column of sheets upon the tables engage the bars 98, the pawls 95 will be lifted and actuation of the pawls 91 by continuous action of the motor 93 "will not result in advancement of the ratchets 99 tooth by tooth since the ratchet wheels are reversed each time the pressure of the pawls 91 is released under action of the eccentric pin 92. When the supply of sheets has been lowered, the rods 9'? will allow the pawls 95 to fall into contact with the ratchet wheels so and the movement or the pawls 91 will become operative to feed the sheets up= wardly.

In this form of the device it is to be understood that the side members 102, 103 are removable to give access to the interior of the device for the purpose of replenishing the supply of the sheets. In such replenishment with the panels open, the pawls 95 may be lifted by pressure upon the projections 194 upon the'pivot of the pawis thereby freeing the platform '75 which will drop by gravity and the pawl may be held in liited position while the supply of sheets is replenished.

To avoid excess or pressure of the sheets against the cover oi. the device, should the rods 9'7 tall lift the ,pawls 95, the pawls are mounted es already described upon spring pivots 98. When undue pressure results, the reverse pressure upon the platform '75 will cause the ratchet wheels so to follow the strokes of the pawls 91 overco the resistance oi the springs 96 so that the ratchet wheels 90 instead oi being driven will merely oscillate under action or the pawls 91.

Further minor changes may be made in the physicalembodiment oi the invention within the scope or the appended claims without deparflng 125 Iron: the spirit thereof.

I claim:

1. A sheet dispensing device comprising, in combination, a casing, a vertical chute in said casing, an elevating platform movable in said 133 chute, aspring motor, traction means driven by said motor, a flexible element secured to said platform and engaging said means, escapement mechanism goveming the action of said motor,

and means actuated by approach of the top 0! 35 a column 0! sheets on said platform to the top oi. said chute acting directly on said escapement mechanism to inhibit action of said escapement mec.

. 2. A sheet dispensing device comprising, in combination, a dispensing chute having a delivery opening, a follower movable in said chute to advance sheets to be dispensed toward said opening, a motor driven shalt having a traction element connected for moving said follower. c motor comprising a source of constantly exerted energy to drive said shaft, 3 toothed wheel carried bysaid shalt. escapement mechanism acting'on said toothed'wheel to govern flow 0! said energyand means adjacent said opening to be contacted by advancing sheets operable to inhibit action of said esoapement mechanism so as to hold said motor out of action while so contacted.

3. A sheet dispensing device comprising, in combination, a dispensing chute having a delivery opening, a follower movable in said chute to advance sheets toward said opening, a spring motor comprising a traction wheel constantly urged by a spring under tension, a flexible element en gaging said wheel and connected to said follower, pendulum and escapement mechanism governing drive of said wheel by said spring, a detent to hold said pendulum, movable means adjacent said opening to be contacted by sheets approaching the opening and means connecting said movable means with said detent whereby presence of sheets adjacent said opening stops said motor.

4. A sheet dispensing device comprising, in combination: a casing having a dispensing opening; a follower for advancing sheets to said .opening; a sprocket wheel'and an idler, one adjacent each end of the range of movement of said follower; a sprocket chain passing about said idler and sprocket wheel and attached to said follower; a ratchet wheel for driving said sprocket wheel; a continuously acting motor; a pawl reciprocated by said motor and acting on said ratchet wheel;

a holding pawl; and means to be pressed by sheets.- approaching said opening acting to lift said holding pawl to stop advancement of said follower by said motor.

5. A sheet dispensing device comprising, in com- I bination: a casing, a pair of 'para11el chutes in said casing each having a sheet dispensing op ing at an end thereof; a follower movable in each chute for advancing sheets to said openings; a continuously acting motor; pawl and ratchet mechanism for driving said followers; speed reducing gearing. driven by said motor; a beam reciprocated through an eccentric driven by said gear, the pawls of said mechanism carried by the respective ends of said beam; a dog acting on each ratchet wheel; and means to be pressed by sheets approaching said openings to lift the respective dogs whereby to stop spective followers.

6. A sheet dispensing device comprising, in

combination: a casing; a vertical chute in the upper part of said casing; an elevating platform movable in said chute; a horizontal shaft journaled in said casing below said chute; sprocket wheels mounted on the ends of said shaft; idler wheels adjacent the top of said chute; endless drive of the re-' sprocket chains passing about said sprocket and idler wheels and secured to said platform; a motor for driving said shaft; a toothed wheel mounted on said shaft; a detent acting on said toothed wheel to govern drive of said shaft from said motor; liftable means adjacent the upper end of said chute in the path of movement of sheets upon said platform; and means to connect said liftable means with said detent whereby approach of sheets to the upper end of the chute will cause upward movement of the platform to stop.

GLENN A. 'SHAFFER. 

